Owensboro at a glance
- Population: about 60,140 residents, ranking 3rd of 416 Census places in Kentucky (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 60,234 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 0.2% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Kentucky places: the 3rd-largest of 416 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 99% of the places in Kentucky (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 37.7572, -87.1174 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Evansville, IN (28 mi); Bowling Green, KY (66 mi); Clarksville, TN (83 mi); Bloomington, IN (102 mi); Hendersonville, TN (104 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller towns: Rockport, IN (10 mi); Richland, IN (13 mi); Grandview, IN (14 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Owensboro
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Kentucky lending rules that apply in Owensboro
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Owensboro: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer Loan Company license — statutory basis | License required from the commissioner to make loans at a greater rate of interest than otherwise permitted by law Source says: "No person shall, without first obtaining a license from the commissioner, engage in the business of making loans ... at a greater rate of interest". | Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | Up to 19% per annum, or 4% over the 90-day commercial-paper discount rate, whichever is less (by written agreement) Source says: "At a per annum rate not to exceed four percent (4%) in excess of the discount rate on ninety (90) day commercial paper ... or nineteen percent (19%), whichever is less". | Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (deferred deposit service business; payday loans) Source says: "The Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) has secured the services of Veritec Solutions, LLC to provide a common database with real-time access for deferred deposit transactions". | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Loan Company license required (KRS Chapter 286.4) Source says: "How to License a Consumer Loan Company: 1. Read KRS 286.4 and the applicable administrative regulations under KAR 808, Chapter 6". | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Source says: "The Department of Financial Institutions' mission is to serve Kentucky residents by promoting access to a stable financial industry, implementing effective and efficient regulatory oversight". | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Owensboro
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Owensboro:
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run your figures through the personal loan calculator on this site so you know the payment before a lender quotes one.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check that the lender is licensed in Kentucky using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.